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"I'll Be All Right Tomorrow" by Dympna Brogan

A Book Review by Alain English

This short book tells the story of Irish woman Dympna Brogan, who suffered massive head injuries in a car crash and developed epilepsy as well as losing the power to read and write.  Dympna also suffered the loss of her younger sister Rosaleen, an incident for which she felt responsible and this book charts the...

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"The Oxford History of the Prison: The Practice of Punishment in Western Society" edited by Norval Morris and David J.Rotham

A Book Review by Alain English

Focussing mainly on the development of the prison in the United States and United Kingdom, this book provides a densely-packed and thorough discussion on the practice of imprisonment as part of the justice system in these societies. 

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"Prose and Cons" - part of "Art by Offenders"

Presented by the Koestler Trust

In the Blue Room - Spirit Level

Royal Festival Hall

London

7pm on Saturday 13th November

This was an exciting evening presenting a live reading of plays, or excerpts from plays, by offenders or ex-offenders.  They were all taken from the Synergy Theatre Project, with winners from the 2010 Koest...

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"NO-ONE KNOWS"

Prisoner's Voices

Experiences of the Criminal Justice System by Prisoners with Learning Disabilities and Difficulties by Jenny Talbot

This report was put together by the Prison Reform Trust and the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.  The report was written by NO-ONE KNOWS, a programme run by the Prison Reform Trust.  NO-ONE KNOWS aims to make a difference to people with...

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Art By Offenders - Exhibition Review

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre London

Viewed on Saturday 30th October by Alain English

The exhibition was created by the Koestler Trust, a charity based in Wormwood Scrubs in West London.  It was created by victims of crime and each work hase been created by an offender detained at a prison or psychiatric hospital.

Firsttine Pierre-Pac...

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"Invisible Women" by Angela Devlin

A Book Review by Alain English

Angela Devlin has published an enormity of work on the prison system including "Prison Patter: A Dictionary of Prison Words and Slang" and "Cellmates/Soulmates: Stories of Prison Relationships".  Whilst taking time to look at both sides of the fence (prisoner and prison officer), her empathy is quite clearly with the form...

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This is a series of reviews I wrote this year for the Shannon Trust, an organisation who run the Toe by Toe reading plan for prisoners.  Some of these have made their way into the Shannon Trust newsletter and have been reproduced here with their kind permisson.

Enjoy!

The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde

A Book Review by Alain English

"The Ballad of Reading Gaol" was Oscar ...

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A Profile of Michael C.Ruppert

I'm going to close off my political line of work for this year by talking about two things.  The first will be Michael C.Ruppert, a former narcotics detective turned investigative journalist.  The name of the documentary above comes from a lecture he gave to the University of Portland on November 28 2001. The lecture formed the basis for his book "Crossing the...

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CD Review

 Behave Yourself Presents "Mes introducing V2"

This has a good mix of street beats and powerful lyrics that seem to float off the tip of the artist's tongue. "Blend" is a howling, raging plea for individuality in a world where everyone strives to fit in.  "Look After You" is a lively, sensuous duet and "London" uses contemporary music as an effective backdrop, evoking the atmo...

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Hi there, all

These are going to be my gigs for the remainder of the year.  Please get along if you can - they are really great nights!

Thursday 9th December

Survivors Poetry

Poetry Cafe

22 Betterton Street

London, England 

WC2H 9BX

Maplink: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=530263&Y=181234&A=Y&Z=110

Gig starts: 8pm

Hosted by Xochitl Tuck

Ent...

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"Issue Eight of the South Bank Poetry" edited by Peter Ebsworth and Sara Nesbitt

This edition of South Bank Poetry is a fine collection of invention and wit, but has a strong political strain missing from previous editions.  This is seen as a response to the recent political crises that have engulfed our country, notably the arrival of our new coalition government and the recession.  Chip H...

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 Hi folks,

I will be doing the following events/open-mics this week!  Come down and check it out!

Tuesday 30th November

SpeechMotion

The Horse and Groom

28 Curtain Road

Shoreditch

London EC2A 3NZ

Nearest tube/rail: Liverpool Street

Maplink: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=EC2A+3NZ&sll=37.0625%2C-95.677068&sspn=30.048013%2C54.667969&...

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Hi folks,

I will be performing at the following event:

Sunday 28th November

Poetry N Motion

Opal Bar (formerly Motion Bar)

Next to Embankment Station on London's District Line

Exit Embankment station on the riverside and turn left and there it is.

Show starts 8:30

Entry fee: £5 before 9:30

Event details here: http://www.ukfridays.com/events.php

See you th...

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Hi folks, 

I will be doing the following open-mics this week -

Tuesday 23rd November

Poetry Unplugged

The Poetry Place

22 Betterton Street

Covent Garden

WC2H 9BX

Maplink: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=51.5125713189515%7E-0.1277656853199005&lvl=15&dir=0&sty=c&eo=1&where1=WC2H&q=WC2H+1BX

Gig starts: 7:30pm (sign up between 6 and 7)

Entry: £4(£3 if you're...

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Hi folks,

I will be appearing tomorrow in RAW Gems with Raw Poetry - see below!

RAW Gems @ Zenith Bar

Featuring Alain English, Tiger Paw, Panama Dave, Louise Larchbourne, David Kerrigan and Sonia Serin

125 Packington Street

Islington

London

N1 7AE

Maplink:  http://www.zenithbar.co.uk/location.php

Time of gig: 7:30 pm

Entry fee £5/£3

I will also ...

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Hi folks,

Here is the Harry Hill Music Video I filmed a month ago.  I will write a poem about this in the future but for now enjoy the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQ4su7xWuA

Alain

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Sunday 17th October

Mad Pride - A Celebration of Creative Lunacy

For World Mental Health Day

A Muses Cafe Special Event

Ivy House

Stuart Road

Nunhead

SE15

Maplink: http://www.multimap.com/s/huFra7ND

Noon until 10pm

Featured Acts include the Bert Shaft Orchestra/The Balloons/The Blowpipes/Paul Birtill/Dave Russell/Jude Cowan/Cathy Flower/Dave S...

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Hi folks,

Tomorrow night I am appearing at Monologue Slam in Rich Mix on Bethnal Green Road, London.  The nearest tube station is Liverpool Street.

Monologue Slam was an idea originally conceived in the US but were started up in Great Britain around two years ago.  The slams are run under the umbrella of Goldrush Entertainments.  Actors are invited to perform monologues at either one mi...

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Hi folks,

I have just finished reading "Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil" by Michael C Ruppert.  He presents a large number of compelling evidences that point to US Government involvement in the events of 9/11, the anniversary of which is this Saturday.  Ruppert speaks a great deal about Peak Oil, and believes the 9/11 was used as a prete...

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Tuesday 7th September

Y Tuesday at the Poetry Club

Three Kings Pub

Clerkenwell

EC1R 0DY

Maplink:  http://www.multimap.com/s/gHB6Ujrd

Gig Starts at 8pm

I'm going to restrict it to one this week, due to other commitments such as writing, performing in "Lost and Found" and job-finding...

Talk soon, 

Alain

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Hi there, 

As well as doing Poetry N Motion tomorrow at Opal Bar, Embankment I am doing a number of other open-mics this week.

Here they are:

Tuesday 31st August

Half Moon Open-Mic

Half Moon Pub

10 Half Moon Lane

Herne Hill

London

SE24 9HU

Link: http://www.multimap.com/s/hCF2ZqeT

Start Time: 8:00pm

Compere is Len Hovis.

Friday 3rd Septem...

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Next Monday's gig has been cancelled due to the Arts Bar being closed - this is most unfortunate as it was a very good venue for gigs - hopefully the Poets Communion, which was housed there last Monday of every month, will find a new home soon.

Alain

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Hi folks,

These are my major new gigs for the following week or so.  Both of them at fantastic venues and with a great atmosphere!  See the links below!

Sunday 29th August

Poetry N Motion

Opal Bar 

Embankment (near Embankment station) 

http://www.ukfridays.com/events.php

Monday 30th August 

FEATURED GIG 

Poets Communion

Arts Bar (above the Funky Mun...

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Hi folks,

This is the review of the RRRANTS gig on Monday 9th August.  It was written by the London Fringe Report.  Mentions all round for all performers!

http://fringereport.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/rrants/

Alain

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 I am performing with the Angel Players at the end of the month in a show called "Loveglove.com" by Deirdre Weir. It's a set in a shop in Angel, North London where people return and find their lost gloves. There is a one act play set in the shop, followed by a poetry sequence written by Sara Nesbitt (who is also directing) centred around one of the characters.

Here is when and where w...

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Last minute call for featured gig tonight at RRRANTS - £5 on the door at the Camden Eye - great lineup including the Antipoet, Alan Wolfson and the headliner David J!

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I was first introduced to the world of standup comedy when I was in Edinburgh in 2003. I found a two-week course on standup comedy via Scottish Youth Theatre, with whom I had done Summer Festival the previous year. I had never really heard of it before I started so this was all new to me.

My two weeks were spent in the auditorium of an old Edinburgh theatre under the tutelage of two experie...

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I am now on Jotspeak - a networking and promotions forum for poets, comedians, authors, musicians, playwrights - writers of every size and description. Check out my profile in the link below and check out the site if you want want to see more!

http://www.jotspeak.com/profile/AlainEnglish

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Link to my Camberwell gig at the end of August!

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/events/event/465/

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Featured gig tomorrow night at RRRANTS at the Poetry Cafe, Betterton Street near Covent Garden. Hosting is Ed Tudor Pole (who replaced Richard O'Brien on "The Crystal Maze"). Gig starts at 7:30pm. See you then!!!!

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 Tonight's planned attendance at "Bang Said the Gun" cancelled due to another appointment.

Will definitely be at Intimates tomorrow night at the Poetry Cafe with Kat Francois. Gig starts 7.30pm

Alain

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Poetry N Motion
Opal Bar
Embankment
London
Right next to Embankment Station on the Northern and District Lines.

Sante with her new Album release.
Goodtimes Trio with there old skool review
Megan Gibson with her new skool grooves
Roger with his soulful Italian style
Ayo - Poet
Alain English - Poet

As well as various other performers (singers and poets)

Please joi...

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